11-Year-Old from Rossville, Michigan Aiden Smith Selected as 2023 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness for Incurable Brain Condition

Roseville, MI- Just 11 years old and already a four-time brain surgery survivor, Aiden developed an incurable brain condition known has Hydrocephalus, which is the number one cause of pediatric brain surgery, which is the only treatment option.

Aiden is a former 28-weeker, and a twin. He was born 9/26/2011 in Detroit. He spent 4 months in the NICU at the hospital he was born at and then was transferred out to Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan where he was for another 3 months before coming home for the first time a day before he turned 7 months. Unfortunately, Aiden’s twin sister Elise was stillborn, and his older sister Amelia also passed away, she was 23.6 weeks. Due to the prematurity, Aiden was resuscitated at birth which was what started his medical journey. Due to being resuscitated, Aiden developed epilepsy, cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus.

Aiden was selected as one of two children to serve as this year’s “National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness”, for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, to help raise the level of awareness and education about Hydrocephalus in the United States. Aiden will represent the boys, while 2-year-old Annalise Strasel, also from Michigan, will represent the girls.

Aiden enjoys music, swinging, swimming, biking, going for walks. He has been to a Detroit Lions pre-season game, Detroit Pistons games, Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, University of Michigan football and a couple Detroit Tigers games.

Aiden’s Mom Andrea shared her thoughts about her son being named the National Ambassador of Awareness for the Hydrocephalus Community; “This is a great honor as many do not know about hydrocephalus and it allows us to bring awareness and share Aiden’s journey. As with many other medical conditions, others think it defines a person, but it doesn’t. It is part of them and is part of who they are today.”

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Joe Domingues used his walk and his charm to win the coveted title of Mr. Spiffy High at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on Friday, Dec. 4, 2022.

Domingues and seven other contestants from the Class of 2023 — Ryan Cawley, Austin Lorenzetti, Matt Nervi, Robert Princepe, Andrew Smith, Guy Varela, and Keith Yeager — competed in the annual event that raises money for charity. The entrants were judged on their fashion (tuxedo) segment, interviews, “talent” contest, and lip-synching. Domingues channeled John Travolta in a Saturday Night Fever-themed dance number in one of the show’s highlights.

The boys also strutted their stuff in production numbers “Country Girl” by Luke Bryan (opening) and a replication of “Pitch Perfect”(closing). The winner received a Wawa gift card and the prestigious title of Mr. Spiffy High. More importantly, the money raised by the event will benefit the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.

“This has been such a long tradition at Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and I’m just blessed to win it,” Domingues told TAPintoSPF.

What was the key to his victory?

“I’d say my perseverance… but charm does help,” Domingues said. “Between the opening dance, my dance, the lip synch, and the closing dance, I’d say we put in an hour and a half each day.”

This year’s hosts were Ali Murphy and Patrick Watt. Event directors were Jordana Reisberg, Danielle Most, and Bianca Valente. Several teachers were judges for the event, which annually is overseen by Marjorie FitzGibbon, DECA Advisor at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

Previous winners include: Joe Monaco (Class of ’22), JJ Dionisio (Class of 2021), Aidan Murphy (Class of 2020), Paolo Bayotas III (Class of 2019) Joe Varela (Class of 2018), Matt Fox (Class of 2017), Josh Axelrod (Class of 2016), and Billy Wilkins (Class of 2015).

For more information on the condition, click here.

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2-Year-Old from St. Charles, Michigan Annalise Strasel Selected as 2023 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness for Incurable Brain Condition